The recent femicide of Rebecca Cheptegei, the Ugandan national record holder in the marathon, by her former partner at her own home was gruesome. It was not more than just four weeks that she had returned after competing at her very first Olympics in Paris, France 2024.
Does success make women vulnerable in an environment of patriarchal supremacy?
Or is it that women who earn have no right to their own winnings? Is it for the men to loot and capitalize on these women's achievements?
Cheptegei's murder brought back harrowing memories of our own Noor Mukadam's homicide. Only 27 years old, Noor, who was brutally tortured and beheaded in the capital on July 21 some three and a half years ago, is still waiting for justice to see the light of day.
Femicide remains pervasive globally, with one woman or girl killed every 10 minutes by their own family or intimate partner
Ayesha Ikram, a TikTok creator, was harassed and groped on the 14th of August while celebrating the country’s Independence Day by more than 400 men on the grounds at the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore.
28-year-old Samia Sarwar, whose murder was arranged by her family in 1999, was shot dead in the offices of Hina Jilani, a well-respected Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist, for allegedly dishonouring the family's name by filing for divorce from her physically abusive husband.
22-year-old student Giulia Cecchettin was killed by her disgruntled ex-boyfriend on the night of November 11, 2023, in Italy.
The act of femicide has become an epidemic of epic proportions.
Femicide remains pervasive globally, with one woman or girl killed every 10 minutes by their own family or intimate partner.
Few of these high-profile femicide cases gain significant attention, representing only a fraction of the lives lost, families destroyed, and talent buried due to gender-based violence.
The femicide count in Kenya documents the murder of 32 women by male perpetrators in just the month of January 2024, highlighting the fact that enough is not being done to secure the lives of those who bring us into this world!
How many men are killed, abused, violated both physically and mentally, discriminated against, or subjected to intimate partner violence in the presence of a culture of violence?
Gender inequality, gender expectations, and systemic gender-based discrimination against women necessitate strong legislation, resulting in forceful action and the implementation of laws to protect the fairer sex.
Every third day, a woman is killed in Britain by a man...
Every two to three days, a woman is killed by a man in Italy.
Femicide, gender-based violence, inequity, and domestic violence against women are but a few of the causes impeding trust and the sustainable development of societies.
Justice delayed is justice denied. In Pakistan, very few cases are reported, and this rate is much higher than in first-world countries. One woman is raped every 45 minutes. Up to 626 women were kidnapped, 120 killed in the name of honour, and 20 were trafficked in 2023. Here, the police often refuse to file an FIR, as it is a normalized practice in our culture, and even if filed and tried in court, the stigma attached and the delay in judgment and its execution simply endorse the crime. At times, these cases are even celebrated as justice for "broke boy behaviour."
Fighting this lost battle, we should strive to preserve sanity as much and wherever we can.
Women victims should be protected when they report domestic violence without fear of victimization.
Community and social groups should be formed to mentor the marginalized.
I believe awareness through social and public platforms, partnering with NGOs, can engage communities to reshape how men view women and their roles as the most effective members of society.
Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC, stated, “At the same time, we must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances, and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women." Nothing is inevitable, and prevention may be the key to addressing this horrific epidemic.
After Tuesday’s ruling, Mr Cecchettin told reporters, “I think you don’t fight against gender violence with jail sentences, but with prevention.”
Giulia Cecchettin's father told the newspaper:
“My feeling is that we have lost, all of us, as a society,” he said, as the news agency ANSA reported. Justice has been done and should be respected, he said, but “as a human being, I feel defeated.”
This Women's Day, let us remember the victims of femicide, for they have made us raise our voices against injustices, leaving us with a cause to make the world a better place. It is, indeed, as Faiz Ahmed Faiz said:
ابھی چراغ سر رہ کو کچھ خبر ہی نہیں
ابھی گرانی شب میں کمی نہیں آئی
نجات دیدہ و دل کی گھڑی نہیں آئی
چلے چلو کہ وہ منزل ابھی نہیں آئی